Collagen-like protein CLAC, precursor thereof and genes encoding the same

Abstract

A novel human collagen-like protein CLAC occurring in brain amyloid and its precursor CLAC-P; genes encoding the same; cDNA of mouse CLAC-P and its deduced amino acid sequence; antibodies specific to these proteins; and methods of diagnosing treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease by using the same.

1. An expression vector containing a CLAC DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence of nucleotide 868 to nucleotide 2493 shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       2. An expression vector containing a DNA encoding a CLAC protein comprising an amino acid sequence of amino acid 113 to amino acid 654 shown in SEQ ID NO. 2, said encoded protein having following properties:
 (a) accumulating in senile plaque amyloid component of Alzheimer's disease, and 
 (b) having a function of promoting aggregation of Aβ. 
 
     
     
       3. A transformant transformed by a vector of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       4. A method for producing a recombinant protein, which comprises culturing a transformant of  claim 3  under a condition enabling an expression vector of  claim 1  to be expressed. 
     
     
       5. An expression vector containing a CLAC-P DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence of nucleotide 532 to nucleotide 2493 shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       6. An expression vector containing DNA encoding a CLAC-P protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, said encoded protein functioning as an Aβ receptor on the cell surface. 
     
     
       7. A transformant transformed by a vector of  claim 5 . 
     
     
       8. A method for producing a recombinant protein, which comprises culturing a transformant of  claim 7  under a condition enabling an expression vector of  claim 5  to be expressed. 
     
     
       9. A transformant deposited to the International Patent Organism Depositary, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology under accession No. FERM BP-7438. 
     
     
       10. An isolated CLAC-P gene contained in a transformant of  claim 9 . 
     
     
       11. A method for producing a recombinant protein, which comprises culturing a transformant defined in  claim 9  under a condition enabling a vector contains CLAC-P gene to be expressed.